GREENOCK Captain Bringing His Ship To Clyde Waters

Friday, 17 February 2012 |

A GREENOCK maritime captain brings the massive Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Argus to Clyde waters today.

RFA Captain Gerry Patterson, who was born and bred in Greenock and still lives there with his wife and son, is sailing the ship to Loch Striven to refuel prior to the start of a large exercise off the west coast of Scotland.

The 30,000-tonne ship – formerly a container ship built in 1988 – is the UK’s only Primary Casualty Receiving Ship (PCRS), equipped with operating theatres and facilities including more than 100 beds. These were first installed when the ship deployed to the Gulf in 1990.

RFA Argus is officially not described as a hospital ship because she is also armed for self defence. RFA Argus doubles as the Royal Navy’s aviation training ship and currently carries three Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters. Two thirds of her length is a flight deck.

Recently, the ship hosted Hollywood star Brad Pitt in the making of his new film called WWZ (World War Zombie). Argus was used to simulate the (fictional) USS Madison, a helicopter carrier.

The ship sails back down the Firth of Clyde on Monday. Photos of RFA Argus on the Clyde in September 2010

Captain Patterson and his largely civilian crew will deploy to the United States in May in time for the hurricane season where she will be the sole Royal Navy fleet unit on station to assist the UK overseas territories in the case of disaster relief. She will also represent the RN at the US commemorations of the 1812 war of independence.

Captain Patterson said: “As a Greenock man I am very happy to be bringing the ship to the Clyde and honoured to command a mixed crew of RFA and RN personnel. The ship has been operating off Yemen while more recently we have been training the pilots of 824 Naval Air Squadron using their Merlin aircraft.

“My ship’s company are a thoroughly professional group which although eclectic, easily meld into a very efficient team and one which has been tested by a busy programme.”